JP2012084113A - Remote handling apparatus and machine tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote handling apparatus capable of conforming the state of an operation switch of a control panel to internal information of a machine tool.SOLUTION: A remote handling apparatus 20 is mountable/dismountable with respect to a control panel 4 including an operation switch for operating a machine tool 1 and remotely operating the operation switch by an operation command from a personal computer 30 that is disposed at a remote location from the machine tool 1 and has a separate body. The remote handling apparatus 20 includes: a panel mounting section 21 mounted on the operation surface of the control panel 4; an operation unit 23 for operating the operation switch; a feeding unit 22 for moving the operation unit 23 against the control panel 4; and a control unit 25 controlling the operation unit 23 and the feeding unit 22 based on the operation command. The panel mounting section 21 includes the operation unit 23, the feeding unit 22 and the control unit 25.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation device for remotely operating a machine tool operation panel from a remote maintenance computer via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and a machine tool including the remote operation device.

  As a remote operation method of a machine tool, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-133867 discloses a method in which an NC machine tool and a personal computer (personal computer) are connected via a network and can be remotely operated by a personal computer. In this remote operation method, the instruction content remotely operated by a personal computer is transmitted to a PLC (programmable logic controller) that controls the NC machine tool via a network, and the PLC operates the operation panel of the NC machine tool based on the instruction content. It is possible to execute the same processing as that.

JP 2000-315103 A

  However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is that the operation switches such as push button switches and changeover switches attached to the operation panel are processed only inside the PLC when remotely operated, and the operation switches themselves are There is no evidence of switch operation. Therefore, the PLC internal information and the state of the operation switch do not match. For this reason, when an operator near the NC machine tool looks at the NC machine tool, the operation of the machine and the state of the operation switch are different, so that there is a problem that safety is not ensured.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and includes a remote control device that directly and remotely controls an operation switch attached to an operation panel of a machine tool, and such a remote control device. The purpose is to provide a machine tool.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the structural feature of the remote control device according to claim 1 is detachable from an operation panel unit having an operation switch for operating a machine tool, and is remote from the machine tool. In a remote operation device for remotely operating the operation switch in accordance with an operation instruction from a separate remote operation instruction means arranged,
Panel mounting means for mounting on the operation surface of the operation panel unit;
An operation unit for operating the operation switch;
A feed unit that moves the operation unit to face the operation panel unit;
A control unit for controlling the operation unit and the feeding unit based on the operation instruction;
The panel mounting means is provided with the operation unit, the feeding unit, and the control unit.

  The remote operation device according to claim 1 is a separate remote operation instructing means which is detachably attached to a predetermined position of the operation panel portion of the machine tool by the panel attachment means, and the control portion is located at a remote place from the machine tool. In response to an operation instruction from, the feed unit provided in the panel mounting portion moves to face the operation panel portion, and the operation portion operates the operation switch.

  As a result, the remote operation device is integrated with an actuator (feed unit and operation unit) and a control unit for operating an operation switch attached to the operation panel of the machine tool, and is detachable. Therefore, it is possible to easily construct a state that can be directly operated from a remote place. In addition, the remote control device can match the state of the operation switch on the operation panel with the internal information (PLC) of the machine tool.

The structural feature of the remote control device according to claim 2 is that the control unit outputs a movement command instructing the feed unit to move in two directions based on the operation instruction,
The feeding unit moves in two directions according to the movement command.

  In the remote control device according to the second aspect, the feed unit moves in two directions based on a movement command from the control unit based on the operation instruction, and the operation unit can operate the operation switch.

  A configuration feature of the remote control device according to claim 3 is that the operation unit moves back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the operation panel unit to operate the operation switch.

  In the remote control device according to the third aspect, the operation unit can operate the operation switch by moving back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the operation panel unit.

The structural feature of the remote control device according to claim 4 is that the control unit outputs an advance / retreat command instructing an advance operation and a reverse operation to the operation unit based on the operation instruction,
The operation unit is operated to operate the operation switch by moving back and forth according to the advance / retreat command.

  In the remote control device according to the fourth aspect, the operation unit can move back and forth in accordance with an advance / retreat command from the control unit and operate the operation switch based on the operation instruction.

  The structural feature of the remote control device according to claim 5 is that the operation switch is gripped or released and rotated to operate the operation switch.

  In the remote control device according to the fifth aspect, the operation unit can operate by holding or opening the operation switch and rotating the operation switch.

The configuration of the remote control device according to claim 6 is characterized in that the control unit instructs the operation unit to perform a gripping operation and an opening operation based on the operation instruction, and a left rotation operation and a right rotation operation. Output a rotation command to instruct
The operation unit is to grip or open the operation switch by the grip command and to rotate the operation switch counterclockwise or right by the rotation command.

  In the remote control device according to the sixth aspect, the operation unit can be gripped or released by a gripping command from the control unit based on an operation instruction, and can be operated to rotate left or right by a rotation command to operate the operation switch. .

  A structural feature of the machine tool according to claim 7 is that the remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.

  The machine tool according to claim 7 can remotely operate the operation switch by mounting the remote operation device on the operation panel unit.

  According to the remote control device of the present invention, the state of the operation switch on the operation panel can be matched with the internal information (PLC) of the machine tool. Thus, when an operator near the machine tool looks at the machine tool, the operation of the machine and the state of the operation switch coincide with each other, so that the operation can be performed without confusion and safety can be ensured.

1st Embodiment: It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the machine tool provided with a remote control apparatus. 1st Embodiment: It is the schematic which shows the structure of the operation panel of a machine tool. 1st Embodiment: It is the schematic which shows the structure of a remote control apparatus. 1st Embodiment: It is the schematic which mounted | wore the remote control apparatus in the operation panel of the machine tool. 1st Embodiment: It is the schematic which shows the control structure when operating remotely. 1st Embodiment: It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of the pushbutton switch in an operation panel. 1st Embodiment: It is the figure which showed the information (control command) input into the control part of a remote control device. 2nd Embodiment: It is the schematic which shows the structure of the operation panel of a machine tool. 2nd Embodiment: It is the schematic which shows the structure of a remote control apparatus. 2nd Embodiment: It is a figure explaining arrangement | positioning of the changeover switch in an operation panel. 2nd Embodiment: It is the figure which showed the information (control command) input into the control part of a remote control device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a remote control device according to the present invention and a machine tool provided with the remote control device will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a machine tool 1 including a remote control device 20 according to the first embodiment. The machine tool 1 inputs a workpiece processing unit 2 that processes a workpiece by numerical control, an NC (numerical control) device 3 that controls the operation of the workpiece processing unit 2 in accordance with a predetermined processing program, and instructions from an operator. An operation panel 4 (operation panel unit), a PLC 5 that controls the entire machine tool 1, a remote operation device 20 that is attached to the operation panel 4 and operates an operation switch (described later) according to an operation instruction from a remote place, and a network 31 The relay 6 relays the signal to the PLC 5 and the remote control device 20.

  The workpiece machining unit 2 includes a plurality of machining axes, a workpiece holding unit that positions and rotates the workpiece, a servo motor that supplies these driving forces, various actuators, and the like.

  The NC device 3 includes a CPU, a memory, a servo motor control unit, and the like, and controls the operation of the workpiece machining unit 2 by executing a machining program loaded in the memory.

  The operation panel 4 includes an input device such as a push button switch 13 (operation switch), an input / output device of a display 12 with an operation function (for example, a display with a touch panel), a CPU, and the like, and receives input data from the input device. It transmits to PLC5, receives the data from PLC5, and outputs it to an output device.

  The PLC 5 includes a CPU, a memory, an input / output unit, and the like. The input / output unit performs data input / output with the workpiece processing unit 2, the NC device 3, the operation panel 4, and the network 31, and is a sequence loaded into the memory. The entire machine tool 1 is controlled by a logical operation using a program.

  The remote operation device 20 is attached to the operation panel 4 by an operation instruction from a personal computer 30 (remote operation instruction means) which is mounted on the operation panel 4 and is remotely located from the machine tool 1 via a network 31. Operate push button switch 13

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1. The operation panel 4 is a device that is provided in the machine tool 1 for processing a workpiece and inputs an instruction from an operator. The operation panel 4 has a push button switch 13 for instructing the operation of the machine tool 1 by an operator and an operation function display for instructing the operation of the machine tool 1 by pressing the touch panel by the operator and displaying the state of the machine tool 1. The remote control device 20 is held on the side surface 15 and can be mounted at a predetermined position.

  Here, the remote operation of the display unit 12 with an operation function corresponds to an operation in which an operation instruction from the personal computer 30 is transmitted to the PLC 5 via the network 31 and the relay device 6 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the PLC 5 presses the touch panel. It is done by working. Details are omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the remote control device 20. The remote control device 20 has a panel mounting portion 21 that is held by a side surface 15 of the operation panel 4 and is mounted at a predetermined position, and a square frame structure provided so as to extend over the left and right panel mounting portions 21. When the operation panel 4 is viewed from the operator, the feed unit 22 (the unit 22a that moves the Y axis and the unit 22b that moves the X axis) moves in the XY plane when the left and right directions are the X axis and the vertical direction is the Y axis. An operation unit 23 that is attached to the unit 22b that moves on the X axis and that is operated by pressing the push button switch 13 by advancing and retreating in a direction orthogonal to the operation panel 4, and a remote place provided below the feed unit 22 It is comprised by the control part 25 connected with the personal computer 30 arrange | positioned.

The feed unit 22 includes a linear motion device (for example, an LM actuator (Linear Motion Actuator)), moves in the XY plane according to an operation instruction from the control unit 25, and the operation unit 23 faces the push button switch 13. Position.
The operation unit 23 includes a linear motion device (for example, a straight-advancing electric cylinder), and is operated by pressing the push button switch 13 with a predetermined torque according to an operation instruction from the control unit 25.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view in which the remote control device 20 is mounted on the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1. When the remote operation device 20 is remotely operated from a separate remote maintenance personal computer 30 disposed in a remote place to maintain the machine tool 1, the remote operation device 20 has a predetermined position on the operation surface of the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1. Used to be detachably mounted.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a control configuration for remote control. A personal computer 30 disposed remotely from the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1 equipped with the remote operation device 20 via a network 31 transmits an operation instruction to the remote operation device 20 by remote operation. The remote operation device 20 includes a control unit 25 that outputs respective commands for instructing each operation necessary to execute an operation according to the received operation instruction, a feed unit 22 that inputs a movement command 26 from the control unit 25, and a control. It is comprised by the operation part 23 which inputs the advance / retreat command 27 from the part 25.

  When the remote operator gives an operation instruction to press the push button switch 13 on the personal computer 30, the operation instruction is transmitted to the control unit 25 provided in the remote operation device 20 via the network 31 by this operation. In response to the received operation instruction, the control unit 25 outputs a movement command 26 so that the feed unit 22 faces the desired push button switch 13 of the operation panel 4. With this movement command 26, the feed unit 22 moves on the XY plane, and the operation unit 23 is positioned to face the push button switch 13. In addition, the control unit 25 outputs an advance / retreat command 27 so that the push button switch 13 facing the operation unit 23 is pressed with a predetermined torque. In response to the advance / retreat command 27, the operation unit 23 advances and operates by pressing the push button switch 13.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the push button switch 13 on the operation panel 4. The XY coordinates of the operation panel 4 are X: 0 and Y: 0 at the upper left corner, and the coordinates of the push button switch 13 arranged at a predetermined position are X: 100 and Y: 150.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating information (control command) input to the control unit 25 of the remote operation device 20. The information input to the control unit 25 when the PC 30 is instructed to press the push button switch 13 is that the operation switch type is “first push button switch”, the movement command 26 is X axis position is “100”, In addition, the Y-axis position is “150”, and the advance / retreat command 27 is “first advance / retreat” and the first operation command is “advance”.

  Accordingly, the control unit 25 outputs a movement command 26 to coordinates X: 100, Y: 150 to the feed unit 22 and an advance / retreat command 27 to advance to the operation unit 23 based on this control command. . The remote operation device 20 is remotely operated when the feed unit 22 moves and the operation unit 23 advances and the push button switch 13 is pressed.

  As described above, according to the remote control device 20 and the machine tool 1 according to the present embodiment, the actuator and the control unit for operating the push button switch 13 attached to the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1 are integrated. Since it is unitized and detachable, it is possible to easily construct a state where it can be directly operated from a remote place. Further, the remote operation device 20 according to the present embodiment of the present invention can match the state of the operation switch of the operation panel 4 with the internal information (PLC) of the machine tool 1. As a result, when an operator near the machine tool 1 looks at the machine tool 1, the operation of the machine and the state of the operation switch coincide with each other, so that operation can be performed without confusion and safety can be ensured. . Furthermore, the machine tool 1 according to the present embodiment can be safely maintained by a remote manufacturer of the machine tool 1 at a remote location via a network such as a LAN.

  In the present embodiment, the remote operation of the operation function display 12 provided in the operation panel 4 is performed by transmitting an operation instruction from the personal computer 30 to the PLC 5. In the same manner as the operation of the push button switch 13 of the present embodiment, the display with operation function 12 may be directly pressed to operate.

<Second Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1 in the first embodiment includes a changeover switch 14 (operation switch) in addition to the push button switch 13, and the operation unit 23 includes a manipulator instead of the linear motion device, This is an embodiment in which the changeover switch 14 is switched remotely to the left. In the second embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted for simplicity.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of the operation panel 4 of the machine tool 1 according to the second embodiment. 8, the same components or elements as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, those descriptions are omitted.
The operation panel 4 includes a changeover switch 14 for an operator to instruct the operation of the machine tool 1.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the remote control device 20 of the second embodiment. 9, the same components or elements as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, those descriptions are omitted.
The operation unit 23 includes a manipulator (for example, a two-finger manipulator), presses the push button switch 13 with a predetermined torque by an advance / retreat command 27 (operation instruction), and holds and rotates the grip command 28 (operation instruction). In response to a command 29 (operation instruction), the changeover switch 14 is gripped and rotated for operation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the changeover switch 14 on the operation panel 4 according to the second embodiment. 10, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 are assigned to the same components or elements as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, those descriptions are omitted.
The coordinates of the changeover switch 14 arranged at a predetermined position on the operation panel 4 are X: 100 and Y: 300.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating information (control commands) input to the control unit 25 of the remote operation device 20 according to the second embodiment. The information input to the control unit 25 when the personal computer 30 is operated to switch the changeover switch to the left side is that the operation switch type is “first changeover switch”, the movement command 26 is X-axis position is “100”, and Y The shaft position is “300”, the gripping command 28 is the first operation type “gripping”, the first operation command is “gripping”, the rotation command 29 is the second operation type “rotation”, and the first The second operation command is “left rotation”, the gripping command 28 is “holding” the third operation type, and “open” is the third operation command.

  Thereby, the control part 25 outputs the movement command 26 to the coordinate X: 100, Y: 300 with respect to the feed unit 22 based on this control command. In addition, the control unit 25 holds the changeover switch 14 with respect to the operation unit 23, rotates to the left, and releases from the holding state. A holding command 28 is output. The remote operation device 20 is remotely operated when the feed unit 22 moves and the manipulator provided in the operation unit 23 switches the changeover switch 14 to the left side.

In the present embodiment, the operation of switching the changeover switch 14 to the left is performed, but the operation may be switched to the right by setting the second operation command to “right rotation”.
Further, although the changeover switch 14 is operated, the pushbutton switch 13 may be operated by pressing the advance / retreat command 27.

  As described above, according to the remote control device 20 and the machine tool 1 according to the present embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Furthermore, the changeover switch 14 attached to the operation panel 4 (operation panel unit) of the machine tool 1 can be directly operated from a remote place.

1: Machine tool, 4: Operation panel (operation panel section), 13: Push button switch (operation switch), 14: Changeover switch (operation switch), 20: Remote operation device, 21: Panel mounting section (panel mounting means) 22: Feed unit, 23: Operation unit, 25: Control unit, 26: Movement command, 27: Advance / retreat command, 28: Grasping command, 29: Rotation command, 30: Personal computer (remote operation instruction means), 31: network

Claims (7)

A remote control unit that can be attached to and detached from an operation panel having an operation switch for operating a machine tool, and remotely operates the operation switch by an operation instruction from a separate remote operation instruction means disposed remotely from the machine tool. In the operating device,
Panel mounting means for mounting on the operation surface of the operation panel unit;
An operation unit for operating the operation switch;
A feed unit that moves the operation unit to face the operation panel unit;
A control unit for controlling the operation unit and the feeding unit based on the operation instruction;
The remote operation device characterized in that the panel mounting means is provided with the operation unit, the feeding unit, and the control unit. The control unit outputs a movement command instructing the feeding unit to move in two directions based on the operation instruction,
The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the feed unit moves in two directions according to the movement command.   The remote operation device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit moves back and forth in a direction orthogonal to the operation panel unit to operate the operation switch. The control unit outputs an advance / retreat command instructing the operation unit to advance and retreat based on the operation instruction,
The remote operation device according to claim 3, wherein the operation unit moves back and forth according to the advance / retreat command and operates the operation switch.   The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit grips or opens the operation switch and rotates to operate the operation switch. The control unit outputs a grip command for instructing a gripping operation and an opening operation to the operation unit based on the operation instruction, and a rotation command for instructing a left rotation operation and a right rotation operation,
6. The remote control device according to claim 5, wherein the operation unit grips or releases the operation switch according to the grip command, and rotates the operation switch counterclockwise or right according to the rotation command. .   A machine tool comprising the remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images